Magnolia Gardens
Robin Carter
Directions
From the intersection of US 17 and SC 61 (west of the Ashley River in Charleston) go north on SC 61 for about 10 miles to the entrance to the gardens on your right (east).
Birds to look for
Wood Duck, Gadwall (w), American Wigeon (w), American Black Duck (w), Mallard (w), Blue-winged Teal (w), Northern Shoveler (w), Northern Pintail (w), Green-winged Teal (w), Ring-necked Duck (w), Lesser Scaup (w), Bufflehead (w), Hooded Merganser (w), Ruddy Duck (w), Pied-billed Grebe, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, American Bittern (w), Least Bittern (w), Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret (s), Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (s), White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Wood Stork, Osprey, Mississippi Kite (s), Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier (w), Sharp-shinned Hawk (w), Cooper's Hawk, Clapper Rail, King Rail, Virginia Rail (w), Sora (w), Common Moorhen, American Coot (w), Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Wilson's Snipe (w), Caspian Tern, Forster's Tern, Least Tern (s), Great Horned Owl, House Wren (w), Winter Wren (w), Sedge Wren (w), Marsh Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler (w), Northern Parula (s), Yellow Warbler (spring, fall), Yellow-rumped Warbler (w), Yellow-throated Warbler, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler (w), Black-and-white Warbler (w), Prothonotary Warbler (s), Northern Waterthrush (spring, fall), Common Yellowthroat, Painted Bunting (s), Baltimore Oriole (w)
Description
This site has much more than beautiful formal gardens. There are miles of trails which lead through hardwood forests, a cypress-tupelo slough, weedy fields, marshes, and impoundments. There is an observation tower overlooking the marshes and impoundments. You may rent a canoe or a bicycle to help you explore.
Rarities seen at Magnolia Gardens include Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Black Rail, Yellow Rail, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and Bullock's Oriole.